Transit Benefit Program Integrity Awareness Training Annual Requirement

Transit Benefit Program Integrity Awareness Training Annual Requirement Last update: 4/17/2020

Topics Program Overview – Background – TRANServe Role – Employee Role – Website Answers – Legal Implications • Understanding the Certification Statement • Knowledge Checks

Program Overview Transit Benefit Program: – Protects Nation’s Infrastructure – Reduces air pollution & traffic congestion – Increases use of mass transit Studies show traffic congestion: – Wastes 1. 9 billion gallons of gas – Costs over $100 billion in wasted fuel & lost time – Reduced commutes save individuals $200 monthly Tax-free subsidy for actual costs of transportation – Up to the maximum set by the IRS statutory limit

Background Program History – 1991 - Federal Transit Administration Program Pilot – 1993 - Clean Air Act – 2000 – E. O. 13150 Federal Workforce Transportation – 2005 - SAFETEA-LU Eligibility – All federal employees working in full or part time paid status – All federal interns and volunteers working in a non paid status

Mass Transportation Rail § Subway § Commuter § Light Bus § Transit authority § Commuter Ferry § Pedestrian or bicycle Trolley Qualified vanpools § Commercial/private vehicle § At least six adults, excluding the driver

TRANServe’s Role • Administers the Transit Benefit Program • Distributes the transit benefit to agency qualified employees • Establishes best practices • Provides education, answers and support to Program Offices and Participants

Your Roles and Responsibilities • Understand the Transit Benefit Program’s scope and limitations • Understand it is a violation of federal law to transfer or sell the transit benefit or to provide false or fraudulent information in order to obtain the benefit • Understand the potential penalties for misuse or false claims

Your Roles and Responsibilities • To not be named on a worksite parking permit at any Federal agency, nor participate in a carpool • To use the transit benefit for home to work and work to home transportation only. • To ensure the amount of transit benefit received does not exceed actual monthly commuting cost of public transportation • To recertify your application to update commuting expenses whenever your commuting method, work schedule or address changes

Legal Implications Employees who misuse the transit benefit are subject to appropriate administrative action including discipline and/or disqualification from future participation in the Transit Benefit Program. Disciplinary penalties can range from a letter of admonishment to removal from Federal Service, depending on the severity of the abuse.

Keep Current: TRANServe. dot. gov ü Apply ü Recertify ü TRANServe Card ü News ü FAQs ü Research mass transit commute ü Subscribe

. Knowledge Check 1 The Transit Benefit Program objective is to: q A. Increase compensation of federal employees per month. q B. Incentivize federal employees to use public transportation to reduce their contributions to traffic congestion and air pollution. q C. Reward the employees for their hard work.

• . Knowledge Check 1 The Transit Benefit Program objective is to: q A. Increase compensation of federal employees per month. q B. Incentivize federal employees to use public transportation to reduce their contributions to traffic congestion and air pollution. q C. Reward the employees for their hard work. The Federal Workforce Transportation Fringe Benefit Program under Executive Order 13150 is designed to reduce traffic congestion and air pollution.

Knowledge Check 2 True or False? • . If I misuse my transit benefit by selling it or over estimating my need for the benefit, I can be removed from federal service.

Knowledge Check 2 True or False? • . If I misuse my transit benefit by selling it or over estimating my need for the benefit, I can be removed from federal service. TRUE: Disciplinary action can range from a letter of admonishment to removal from Federal Service, depending on the severity of the abuse.

Knowledge Check 3 TRANServe’s Role is: q A. To distribute the transit benefit to federal employees. q B. To administer the Transit Benefit Program. q C. To establish Best Practices. q D. All of the above.

Knowledge Check 3 TRANServe’s Role is: q A. To distribute the transit benefit to federal employees. q B. To administer the Transit Benefit Program. q C. To establish Best Practices. q D. All of the above. TRANServe delivers Transit Benefit Programs and establishes Best Practices.

Knowledge Check 4 Jermaine plans to start teleworking. The next step is to: q A. Inform his supervisor. q B. Continue claiming his transit benefit without change. q C. Submit an updated application.

Knowledge Check 4 Jermaine plans to start teleworking. The next step is to: q A. Inform his supervisor. q B. Continue claiming his transit benefit without change. q C. Submit an updated application. You are responsible to update your transit benefit application and commuting cost worksheet whenever you change your commuting method, work schedule, or address.

The Transit. Benefit Certification Statement

Certification Is Required Certify: “To formally and legally attest a specific statement to be true” Before you can enroll in the Transit Benefit Program you must first certify that certain conditions are true about you.

Read the Certification Statement Carefully

To What Must I Agree? You Must agree: ü I am employed by the U. S. Federal Government. ü I am not named on a federally subsidized parking permit, anywhere. ü I am eligible for a public transportation fare benefit ü I will use the benefit for my daily mass transit commute to and from work ü I will not give, sell or transfer it to anyone else ü I will not use the Government provided benefit in excess of the IRS limit ü I will not claim an amount in excess of my actual monthly commuting expense ü I will not include parking fees as part of my commuting cost worksheet

Knowledge Check 5 Keeva joined a carpool after commuting on the train for 5 years. She received the maximum benefit per month for her commute. She sold her benefit since she believes the benefit belongs to her. Was this the correct course of action? q Yes q No • The answer is….

Knowledge Check 5 Keeva joined a carpool after commuting on the train for 5 years. She received the maximum benefit per month for her commute. She sold her benefit since she believes the benefit belongs to her. Was this the correct course of action? q Yes q No It is against the law to give away or sell the Transit Benefit

Knowledge Check 6 Hayly commutes from Virginia to get to work. Her commuting costs are $294 per month. She is eligible to receive additional transit benefit since her commute is so costly. q True q False

Knowledge Check 6 Hayly commutes from Virginia to get to work. Her commuting costs are $294 per month. She is eligible to receive additional transit benefit since her commute is so costly. q True q False The federal government may provide up to the IRS maximum for mass transportation commuting costs. Hayley must cover the additional amount, “out of pocket”.

Knowledge Check 7 • Becky chooses to ride in a carpool. She is eligible to receive the transit benefit. q True

Knowledge Check 7 Becky chooses to ride in a carpool. She is eligible to receive the transit benefit. q True False. The Federal Transit Benefit is for federal employees who choose to commute on mass transit in a commuter highway vehicle. This includes bus, rail, light rail and an authorized vanpools.

Knowledge Check 8 Ivan rides mass transit and parks in the lot near the station. He includes his parking fees in the computation of his monthly commuting cost. He is right to do this. q True q False

Knowledge Check 8 Ivan rides mass transit and parks in the lot near the station. He includes his parking fees in the computation of his monthly commuting cost. He is right to do this. q True q False FALSE - The Federal Transit Benefit is exclusively for your home-to-work-to-home commute on mass transportation. Any other use is actionable as fraud, waste, or abuse of federal funds

Knowledge Check 9 Ciera and her supervisor agree she may telework two days each week, indefinitely. Her transit benefit is $25 per week. Now that she does not commute every day, her correct course of action is to: q A. Thank her supervisors’ for his/her understanding. q B. Continue claiming her transit benefit without change. q C. Change her transit benefit to $15 per week or $60 per month.

Knowledge Check 9 Ciera and her supervisor agree she may telework two days each week, indefinitely. Her transit benefit is $25 per week. Now that she does not commute every day, her correct course of action is to: q A. Thank her supervisors’ for his/her understanding. q B. Continue claiming her transit benefit without change. q C. Change her transit benefit to $15 per week or $60 per month. You must update your application and change your benefit amount whenever your commuting expenses change.

Knowledge Check 10 Chris is going to an off-site meeting. He is using mass transportation to travel to and from the meeting. Since he has extra funds on his TRANServe Card he decides to use his transit benefit. This is the correct course of action. q True q False

Knowledge Check 10 Chris is going to an off-site meeting. He is using mass transportation to travel to and from the meeting. Since he has extra funds on his TRANServe Card he decides to use his transit benefit. This is the correct course of action. q True q False Travel to an off-site meeting or training class is an office expense. The Transit Benefit is provided solely for your home-to-work-tohome commute via mass transportation. “Extra” funds are swept back to your Agency at the end of the monthly cycle. A permanent change requires that you update your application so you do not tie up much needed funds.

Thank you for choosing to commute using mass transit. Additional information is available on our Website: https: //www. transportation. gov/transerve/faq For Agency specific questions, please contact: Insert agency specific email or phone Your feedback on this program is important to us. Please take a moment to complete the Survey.

The TRANServe Electronic Application requires you to certify to your agency that you have successfully completed the annual requirement to review the roles and expectations of the Insert Agency name Transit Benefit Program.